Yankees Aaron Judge is set to break another team record

Yankees slugger Aaron Judge is having an incredible 2017. The current MLB home run leader is also close to the league lead in strikeouts, and at this rate, might hit the 200-strikeout plateau.

The Yankees have found its new franchise player in Aaron Judge, and Major League Baseball has a new face of he game. Judge has taken the league by storm, with his majestic home run blasts. But as most sluggers do, Judge records his fair share of strikeouts. Through 89 games played, Judge has hit 30 home runs and struck out 116 times.

Aaron Judge had an incredible first half of the 2017 season, hitting 30 home runs, breaking Joe DiMaggio’s rookie club record. He also won the Home Run Derby after demolishing multiple baseballs 500+ feet. But lost in the home runs and the power is the swings and misses, which Judge is among the top of the league in.

Judge has recorded 322 at bats this season, with 100 resulting in hits and 116 in strikeouts. He is hitting .311/.432/.649, but what happens when he puts the ball in play? Judge is hitting an incredible .485 when he simply puts the ball in play and avoids striking out.

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Nearly half the time he makes contact, he is recording a base hit. His current batting average of .485 when putting the ball in play would be the highest mark in Major League Baseball history.

But even when Judge is not hitting the baseball, he is on pace to break another record. There have been nine 200+ strikeout performances by a hitter in MLB history, and Judge is on pace to become number 10.

Strikeouts have always been a problem in Judge’s brief Major League career. In his first season, Judge struck out in half (42-84) of his at bats. While he is striking out a lot in 2017, some swing adjustments and better discipline have made him a more powerful contact and power hitter.

But what separates him from the others is his batting average. The Orioles Chris Davis currently owns the record for highest batting average in the 200+ strikeout club with a .262 mark.

Judge, barring a catastrophic second half collapse, should post a higher batting average than that. Judge has struggled so far in the second half, dropping his batting average almost 20 points.

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There is no question Aaron Judge has been the best player on the Yankees, and arguably the entire league.

He is a no brainer for American League Rookie of the Year, and is going to be considered for the MVP award. Judge has struggled after the All Star Break, but is looking to turn it around.